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Unit 8Applications Programs

Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

Prince Norah bint Abdul Rahman University

College of Computer Since and Information System

NET201

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Introduction

• Software = programs + data

Sets of computer instructions written

in a computer language

It is input, processed and output by a

computer system

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• Programs that allow the user to do various types of work on a computer such as wordprocessors and databases are called Applications programs .

• A set of related applications programs is referred to as a package or a suite.

Applications Programs

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• Common applications programs include: Wordprocessors:

for creating and editing texts Spreadsheets:

for performing calculations using formulas Databases:

for storing data so that it can be easily searched and sorted

Graphics: for drawing

Common Applications Programs

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Games: for playing fast action games

Accounts: for keeping business accounts

Payroll: for calculating salaries

Presentation program: for creating multimedia slide shows

Email: for sending electronic mail messages

PIM (personal information manager): for keeping track of appointments, address book, task list, etc…

Common Applications Programs

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DTP (desktop publishing program): for creating publications to be printed by a professional printer.

Small business tools: for performing various business tasks.

Website editor: for creating and editing webpages

Image editor: for editing graphic images

Developer tools: for writing programs to add features to existing applications

and creating integrated program systems

Common Applications Programs

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• Some applications programs, such as wordprocessors, spreadsheets and databases, are commonly referred to as office programs because they are commonly used in a typical office.

• Office packages or suites such as Ms Office are sets of interrelated office programs.

• Different versions of office suites are usually available containing different combinations of programs.

Applications Programs: Office Programs

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• Mailmerging is a useful feature found in most office suites that combines a database with a word processor document to automatically produce a copy of a standard letter for each record in the database.

Applications Programs:Mailmerging

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• Patient Browser program(GPASS)– It is a type of database for sorting and searching patient

records.• Games consoles – are specialized computers designed for playing games such

Ms Xbox, Nintendo DS and Sony playstation, are available for playing a variety of computer games.

• ASP (application service provider) – rents applications to users instead of buying software, the

user pays for using applications as and when they need them.

Applications Programs:

• The ASP provides the software, manages the hardware and provides storage space, security controls and the physical links to customers.

• The ASP normally leases storage space for programs and data from data centers which are facilities for storing large amounts of information owned by data storage specialists.

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Applications Programs:Application Service Provider

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• The user is provided with remote access across a communications network to a wide variety of programs including: Generic applications such as email and office

suites, high-end (advanced) packages including large, complex business applications such as enterprise resource planning tools e.g. SAP

Business services, such as payroll and accounting systems

Expensive specialist tools e-commerce (buying and selling on the

Internet)resources.

Applications ProgramsApplication Service Provider

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1) This gives the user more flexibility2) Saves them having to install and maintain programs,

upgrade (install newer versions of programs), deal with viruses (programs that can reproduce themselves and are written with the purpose of causing damage or causing a computer to behave in an unusual way) and manage email systems.

Advantages of ASP

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1) The need for a broadband (high bandwidth i.e. a connection with a high signal capacity) network connection or a leased line ( a cable connection that is rented for use in a communications system)

2) Dependence on the ASP to provide a secure, reliable, rapidly available service.

Disadvantages of ASP

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Unit 9Multimedia

Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

Prince Norah bint Abdul Rahman University

College of Computer Since and Information System

NET201

• Multimedia is the term used to refer to a combination of text, graphics, animation, sound and video.

• MP3 (MPEG Audio Layer 3) is a standard way of storing compressed digital audio files (usually music).

• Digital audio is created by sampling sound 44,000 times a second and storing a code number to represent each sound sample.

• The files are compressed by removing any sounds that are inaudible to the human ear, making them much smaller than files created using other digital audio storage standards , such as WAV.

Introduction

• The size of an audio file commonly measured in megabytes (MB) (millions of bytes).

• The frequency of a sound is measured in kilohertz (kHz)

(thousands of cycles per second).

• MP3 files have extra code added, called tags, that give the user information about the file e.g. the performer’s name, a URL (uniform resource locator i.e. a web address) or a graphic such as an album cover.

Measurements

• Because of their small size, MP3 files are more suitable for transferring across the Internet (the connection of computer networks across the world).

• Some Internet websites (sets of related pages stored on a Web server on the World Wide Web) are devoted to providing MP3 file for downloading ( copying from a server computer to a client computer).

• The user can create their own music compilations (combinations of files) by listening to each file using a computer program, such as Windows Media Player, and choosing what files to download.

MP3 Files

• They can then use a computer program called an MP3 player to listen to the files and control the sound.

• MP3 players let the user group songs into play lists and randomise the selections.

• They also have sound control features such as spectrum analysers, graphic equalisers and frequency displays.

• A track info button allows the user to see the information stored in the MP3 file tag.

MP3 Player

• The appearance of MP3 players can be changed using programs called skins (or themes).

• MP3 players often include a program, called a ripper, that lets the user rip (extract) a song from a CD (compact disk) and convert it to a standard WAV file.

• Another program called an encoder is used to convert WAV files into MP3 files or vice versa.

• Recorder programs are also available that enable the user to create audio CDs using a writable CD-ROM drive.

Manipulating Audio files

• Special MP3 player devices are also available that enable the user to listen to MP3 files without a computer.

• MIDI (Musical Instrument Digital Interface) is a standard way of connecting musical instruments, music synthesisers and computers.

• A piece of electronics called a MIDI interface board is installed on each device to enable the device to communicate using MIDI standards.

• As music is being played, it can be displayed on a monitor screen as a musical score, then edited using a computer program that uses all the features of a mixing desk (an electronic device for mixing sounds together), stored and printed.

Manipulating Audio files

• MIDI systems do not store the actual sound. Instead the sound is encoded (stored as MIDI messages) in the form of 8-bit bytes (units of capacity equal to eight binary digits i.e. 1s and 0s) of digital information.

• A bit is a binary digit i.e. a 1 or 0, and byte is a group of 8 bits.

• The MIDI messages commonly consist of instructions that tell the receiving instrument what note to play, how long and how loud it should be played, including a number that indicates which instrument to play.

• Each instrument is represented by a different number e.g. 67 is a saxophone.

Musical Instrument Digital Interface(MID)

• A DVD-ROM, commonly referred to as a DVD (digital versatile disk – previously known as digital video disk), is a development of CD-ROM (compact disk read only memory).

• It is an optical storage media ( a storage media that uses laser light to store data) that provides large amount of storage space for multimedia files.

Storing Multimedia Files

• A DVD-ROM drive ( a storage device for reading DVD disks) uses blue laser light (rather than the red laser light used by CD-ROM drives) to read information from the disk.

• Both sides of the disk can be used for storing files each side can have two separate storage layers.

• The data transfer rate of a DVD (the speed that data can be read from a DVD) is also faster than that of a CD-ROM.

• The capacity of a DVD is commonly measured in gigabytes (GB) (thousands of millions of bytes).

DVD-ROM Drive

• MPEG is a method of compressing and decompressing video signals.

• MPEG stands for “Motion Picture Experts Group”, an organization that develops standards for audio and video compression.

Audio Compression

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Unit 11Networks

Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

Prince Norah Bint Abdul Rahman University

College of Computer Since and Information System

NET201

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Networks

• A network is a combination of a number of computers and peripheral devices connected

together.• Networks allow:

1) Communication between computers2) Sharing of hardware such as printers

3) Sharing of software (programs and data)• A network that covers a small area such as an office

or a building is called a LAN (local area network)

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• The main computers that provide services on the network are called servers such as a file server which provides a central storage area for data files.

• The computers that use these services are called clients.

• The computers can be connected using various types of cabling, including the ordinary telephone system wiring.

• A main data communications cable connecting LANs together is referred to as a backbone.

Clients and Servers

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• Various electronic devices are also used to amplify, filter and determine the best path for the signals. These include:

1) Bridges: for dividing a LAN into separate parts or connecting similar networks together.

2) Gateways: for connecting different types of networks3) Routers: for connecting different networks together

and determining the bets path or route for the signals. They are used to connect networks to form the Internet.

Networks Devices

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4) Modem (modulator/demodulator): used to convert signals from analogue ( having a variety of levels) to digital ( having only two levels, representing on and off) for connection to the ordinary telephone system

• Alternatively, an ISDN (integrated services digital network) adapter or a DSL (digital subscriber line) modem can be used to allow digital signals to be used without being converted to analogue signals.

Network Devices

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• WiFi –(wireless fidelity ) - is a set of standards for radio based

wireless networks.• wireless networks:

–interconnection of computers using signals carried thru the air, usually radio waves, instead of thru connecting cables.

• The computers connect to each other and to wired networks using an electronic device known as an AP (access point).

• APs enable computers to be connected together to form WLANs (wireless local area network) such as a network that uses radio waves to connect computers in a small area.

Wireless Networks

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• Each computer needs an electronic interface installed, known as a wireless NIC (network interface card).

• Some security can be provided on wireless networks by using encryption programs (programs that convert data to coded form to make it more secure).

• WEP (wired equivalent privacy) can be used. This is a basic set of standards used to convert data on a wireless network to provide privacy.

Wireless Networks

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• When data is transmitted thru a network system, it can be transmitted in different ways:

1) Asynchronous transmission (or stop-start transmission) sends the data one byte (character) at a time. A start bit (called control bit) is added to indicate the beginning of each byte. Another control bit called the stop bit is added to indicate the end of each byte.

Data Transmission Modes

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2) Synchronous transmission sends the data in blocks. Extra bytes of data called synch bytes are added at the beginning and end of each block. They are used to synchronize the sending and receiving devices.

Data Transmission Modes

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• When a message is transmitted thru a network, it is processed in various ways by the software and the hardware:

1) First, it is processed by the applications program such as an email program,

2) Then it is processed by the operating system. 3) Next, it is processed by the hardware such as the

network interface card4) Finally, it is processed by the network electronics such

as a router as it passes thru the network system.

Data Transmission

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• When it arrives at its destination, it is similarly processed in reverse order to display the message on the display screen of the receiving computer.

Data Transmission

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1) HW and SW can be shared2) Access to the system can be controlled3) Maintenance is easier4) Users can communicate easily with each

other5) Easier to check for viruses6) Easier to make backups

Advantages of Network

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1) More complex to set up2) More expensive3) More vulnerable to viruses4) The whole network depends on the central

server5) Require more expertise to maintain

Disadvantages of Network